Handle with parts storage space



June 16, 1964 s. A. YOUNG 3,137,310

HANDLE WITH PARTS STORAGE SPACE Filed Dec. e, 19Go.

INVENTOR.

United States Patent() 3,137,310 v HANDLE WITH PARTS STORAGE SPAC Stephen A. Young, Flora, Ind. Filed Nov. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 68,010 1 Claim. (Cl. 137-329.01)

This invention relates to plumbing fittings or fixtures, and primarily to the problem of replacing parts for the wearing elements of such fixtures or fittings, v

Whereas the usual plumbing fixture or fitting such as a two-valve or shower-valve, which is built-in or otherwise substantially integral with a wall, from time to time requires replacement parts to be provided, and in view of the fact that the manufacture Vof plumbing fixtures or fittings is carried forward by many different companies, under a great many conditions, replacement parts are difficult to obtain for those parts which become worn, and under some circumstances are impossible to locate, necessitating replacement of the whole valve with the expense attendant thereupon.

To the foregoing problem, this invention is directed as a radical improvement over any prior concept, involving as it does the provision of lreplacement or spare parts for all fixtures or fittings, irrespective of type, so that if wear or other problems are encountered during the use of the fixture or fitting from time to time, the user will have ready at hand sufiicient replacements to obviate any difficulties encountered in obtaining the same, and thus at the same time vastly lengthen the life of such fixtures or fittings and the usefulness ofthe same to such user.

This invention contemplates by the foregoing, a plumbing fixture or fitting in which suitable provisions are made for the storage of the spare parts as previously indicated, such storage space being ready at hand, and easily accessible with a minimum amount of effort,YV and not requiring any radical modification in the `structure of Athe fixture or fitting as will be understood from subsequent description. l Y Y- The concept involved herein, is one in which a modification of the handle by designing the same from a mechanical standpoint to provide storage space, makes possible the provision of the spare or replacement parts under the conditions previously set forth, access thereto being facilitated by the novel arrangement and relationship of the parts necessary for providing the storage space as indicated.

In view of the foregoing, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a novel plumbing fixture in which storage space is provided for spare or replacement parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plumbing fixture or fitting in which the spare or replacement parts are stored in a condition readily accessible, and at the same time not radically changing the functional phases of the various parts commonly associated with such fixtures or fittings.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a novel structure in which the handle is arranged with a storage space therein, so that spare or replacement parts may be located in such storage space, suitable provisions being made for covering such storage space and yet making the same readily accessible when necessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel handle, in which storage space is arranged to make possible the positioning therewithin of the most essential parts of a fixture or fitting, which commonly wear and require replacement, such parts being readily accessible through a cover which itself serves the function of an index button.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the specification appended hereto and disclosed in the drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a handle embodying the f e washer 8, maintained in position by 3,137,310 Patented June 16, 1964 ICC storage space hereof, indicating the storage lspace and its relationship to various handle elements.

FIGURE 2 is a viewk in elevation of the handle, disclosing the same as having a portion broken away whereby the storage space is indicated therewithin. i

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken about on the line 3 3 of FIGURE l looking in vthe direction of the arrows and further disclosing the storage space arrangement and its relationship tothe handle as well as other parts thereof and the stem to which the lhandle is connected.

FIGURE 4 is a view in elevation on a somewhatV reduced scale and partly in section, of a valve unit in which the various essentialelements requiring occasional replacement are indicated, the handle of this invention is being shown in place'and thus an indication of the relationship of the storage'vspace provided to the wearing portions of ,such valve unit which require occasional replacement. r k f Referring now to the drawing, and primarily to FIG- URE 4 as 'a basis for the general description, it will be noted that vthe valve unit generally designated 1 includes a main body 2, having the inlet 3 and outlet 4, controlled by valve mechanism generally designated as 5, which mechanism includes a stem 6 at the lower end of which is a seat washer member 7, in which is mounted a seat a seat washer screw 9 in generally conventional manner. i i

The seat washer 8 is intended to be moved toward and from a seat 10, known as a renewable seat by reason of kthe fact that it may be removed and replaced where necessary, such renewable seat providing for Vthe flow ,of

maintained in place by a'packing vnut 13, ,the latter parts 12 and 13 being shown in dotted lines as lying within a sleeve 14 commonlyrprovided to conceal such parts as well as the stem 6, at the upper end of which'stem 6 is mounted the handle 15 to be described in detail in respect to the other views.

Turning now to a consideration of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the handle 15 is shown as comprising a generally cylindrical body 16, the lower portion of which is hollow as indicated at 17, the upper portion having the ears or handle members 18 extending therefrom, said members being provided to be able to rotate the handle as necessary and thereby the stem 6 connected thereto. n

The stem 6'is provided at its upper end with a broached portion 19, which is received in a mating broached portion 20 of the handle body 16, this broach portion being Va part of a transversely extending web'21 formed integrally in the handle body 16, and providing above such web 21 a hollow storage space more clearly indicated in FIGURE 2 at 22. Such storage space 22 will be generally cylindrical as would appear from a consideration of FIGURE l, and in the bottom of the storage space and extending through the web 21, the handlescrew 23 is disclosed in place, whereby the stem 6 is connected to the handle 15 in the generally conventional manner.

In View of the foregoing it will be readily seen that a hollow space of some fairly extensive area is provided above the web 21, and in order to effect a closure of this upwardly lopen space, a cover 24 is provided and in thisY tain the index button 24 in place, and serve as a cover for the space now being described.

Within the space 22, considerable spare parts may be stored as indicated for example by the part which may be called a seat Washer at 23, a stern packing 29, a seat washer screw 30, which may also act as a screw to substitute for the screw 23 for example, and a renewable seat 31 all being shown in the space 22 provided.

These parts will of course correspond in every respect to the parts shown in FIGURE 4 inV place and may be substituted therefor by appropriate manipulation of suitable tools which may be availed of for the purpose.

It will be understood that the handle S may take any of a large number of different external shapes, and even the cavity or space 22 therewithin may be of diierent forms, so long as some space is provided for the spare orreplacement parts such as the washer 28, the packing 29 or the other parts previously enumerated and described. Likewise it is clear that a cover of any suitable form may be provided whether or not it serves as an index button, and thus the cover 24 as long as it functions as a cover will retain the parts stored there- Within for an indefinite period always accessible by suitable manipulation of a tool to lift the index button 24 for example out of place into the dotted line position as indicated in said FIGURE 3 if desired for subsequent removal and making possible the lifting out of any one of the parts sought for replacement.

It should be understood that other parts of similar nature may be stored in this storage space, so long as the space is adequate therefor or alternatively fewer parts may be stored in such space if that be found desirable and yet they are always accessible to the user for replacement When necessity requires.

I claim:

In a faucet valve including a body portion having an inlet, an outlet, passage means therethrough and valve means interposed in said passage for controlling the iiow of Huid therethrough, the combination comprising a valve stem extending outwardly from said body operatively connected to said valve for moving the valve between controlling positions, sealing means mounted in said body encircling said stem, a substantially tubular sleeve portion carried by said valve body enclosing said sealing means and a portion of said valve stem, and a valve stem actuating handle portion including a substantially cylindrical hollow body portion having a bore therethrough, web means extending across said hollow body in said bore intermediate the ends thereof dividing said hollow body to define an upper recessed portion and a lower skirt portion, said upper recessed portion including wall means dening a substantially unobstructed cylindrical chamber disposed wholly within said body portion of said handle, said chamber defining walls terminating at their upper extremity in an annular stepped shoulder portion, means on said web forfconnecting said handle to said stern, said skirt portion of said handle disposed in telescoping relation over a portion of said sleeve whereby to completely conceal said valve stem and said sealing means within a chamber defined by said sleeve and said handle, and unitary resilient cover means disposed within said stepped annular shoulder portion frictionally retained therein by such resiliency and, overlying said recessed portion and substantially ush with the upper surface of said handle whereby to conceal said recess from View` References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,087,654 Glauber Feb. 17, 1914 1,635,875 Albrecht July 12, 1927 1,667,580 Albrecht Apr. 24, 1928 2,583,291 Beem Ian. 22, 1952 2,861,825 Abrams Nov. 25,` 1958 3,010,743 Bengtson Nov. 28, 1961 3,043,330 Young July 10, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 156,980 Switzerland of 1932 287,436 Italy of 1931 341,191 Great Britain, of 1931 382,991 n Great Britain of 1932 491,724 Great Britain of 1938 586,370 Great Britain of 1947 ...MS-.v 

